Vessel Occlusions in Plants: Morphological, Functional and Evolutionary Aspects

Abstract

The minimum pit aperture diameter of a vessel-parenchyma pit pair was found as the decisive wood anatomical feature for vessel occlusion by either tyloses or gums. Based on this observation, as well as on considerations and established knowledge about the functional significance of vessel occlusions, an evolutionary hypothesis is presented. In order to withstand microorganisms and embolisms, plants are able to occlude their vessels with tyloses or gums. The most primitive Angiosperms show tylosis formation. With the decreasing pit sizes in the vessel wall during plant evolution, gum formation was developed, whereas the increasing vessel sizes led in some plants to renewed tylosis formation.